UNESCO Eyeing Bali for 3 New Cultural Heritage Sites

Indonesian Government Lobbying for the Inclusion of Three Bali Sites for Inclusion on UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites.

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(12/23/2009)

Beritabali.com says three areas in Bali are targeted for designation as "Cultural Heritage Areas" by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010.

The three areas singled out for the recognition on the island are: the rice terraces of Jatiluwih near Tabanan; the Pakerisan river valley in Gianyar; and the "subak" or traditional water irrigation system at Taman Ayung in Badung.

The Director General for History and Ancient Sites at the Department of Culture and Tourism, Hari Untoro Drajat, told the press on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, that he expected that by June of 2010 the three areas will receive notification of their selection by UNESCO. Drajat's expectations are fed by a request from UNESCO to the government of Indonesia asking for more supporting documents be submitted before February 2010. Further fueling Drajat's optimism is the fact that the three areas in Bali are embraced and preserved as cultural treasures by their surrounding communities.

Said Drajat, "Bali is ready with social organization, such as the 'desa perkrama,' to sustain these site."

The government has recommended to UNESCO eight places in Indonesia to be considered as cultural heritage sites. These sites are located in Bali, Tanah Toraja, Nias, Muara Jambi and Trowulan.

To date, only three areas in Indonesia have qualified as for cultural heritage site status: the Borobudur Buddhist monument in Magelang, the Prambanan Hindu Temple complex in Sleman/Klaten and the prehistoric man site at Srangiran.